Sierra Mountain Times

How are YOU dealing with the current gas prices? (asked in Murphys)

“Well, it’s lesser now, so I’m not feeling quite the pinch; but before, I cut down from buying twelve-packs of Sierra Nevada (beer), to twelve-packs of Miller Lite. I had to sacrifice. Not quantity, but quality. And with groceries: instead of buying the top end, nice cheese, I had to buy the cheap cheese. Instead of buying the organic eggs, I had to buy the cheap white eggs. With everything across the board, I had to reduce my costs because gas went ridiculous! It was absolutely ridiculous what we were paying for gas! Now, I’m saving up for the next price gouge. In about six months, it’s going to be back over four bucks again. It’s time to save up.” – Dan Huttner, Angels Camp, (parcel delivery/ service provider)

“I’m happier than s#@%! Ooops, can I say that? I’m as happy as a clam! Two months ago I was spending $350 a month to go to work. Now I’m only spending $150 a month! What to do with all that extra money now? More beer! More pool! More fun!” – Helen Shamberger, Mountain Ranch, (auto parts driver)

“I’m still driving less, just trying to conserve, because it’s still too high. Diesel needs to come down a lot more. Yeah, gas has come down, but it’s still running too high. My personal pickup’s a diesel, and I’d like to see diesel fuel under two dollars. It should be less than regular. It always was before. And all the trucking in the country and everything else depends on diesel. And there’s still no extra money ‘cause its all gone out there with everything else.” – Jim Fraguero, Murphys, (wildlife specialist)

“I think the gas prices are freakin’ excellent! They freakin’ rock! I’m dealing with these gas prices freakin’ excellently! It’s freakin’ awesome that it’s as low as it is! Freakin’ $1.97 in Murphys! Now I’m using my extra dollars to drive anywhere the hell I want, for a lot less!” – Angela McHardy, Murphys, (chef)

“Well I’m glad they’re going down a little bit. But when you live up here in the hills, you gotta drive a long ways just to get to work, or to find a job. I don’t like it. I think we’re getting played. I think there’s a lot of people in big money, big corporations that are running the oil, that are playing us; ‘cause the price of a barrel of gas, and the price you pay at the pump doesn’t necessarily corrulate. A hundred dollars a barrel doesn’t mean it’s five dollars for a gallon of gas! And I don’t think the prices (currently at the pump) are going to stay under two dollars. I think it’s going to go back up again, I think, by next summer. Maybe it’ll stay low over the winter when people don’t drive as much. But I think it’s going to go right back up. And I still don’t have that much extra money in my pocket. Not really. I mean I save a dollar, or two on gas, but groceries have gone up! Everything has gone up! My rent, everything! The hundred dollars I have in my pocket: fifty of it goes for my tank of gas; buying groceries is the other forty; and then I’ve only got ten dollars left over for what I want.” –Micah Harrison, Murphys, (floor installer)